Intelligent handling of message refusal

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for intelligently responding when a user refuses an incoming message at a telecommunications terminal is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiments, the apparatus comprises a processor that prompts the user to optionally specify (i) one or more acceptable alternative message delivery mechanisms (e.g., email, text chat, etc.), and/or (ii) one or more alternative devices (e.g., pager, PDA, etc.) when a user refuses an incoming message. For example, a user in a noisy environment who refuses a voice telephone call might specify the following as alternative delivery mechanisms and devices: short message service (SMS) on the user&#39;s pager, text chat on the same device as the first message, and email on the user&#39;s personal digital assistant (PDA).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to telecommunications in general, and,more particularly, to telecommunications equipment that intelligentlyresponds when a user refuses an incoming message.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of the salient components of atelecommunications system in accordance with the illustrativeembodiments of the present invention. Telecommunications system 100comprises: public switched telephone network (PSTN) 105, private branchexchange (PBX) 120, cellular network 150, and five telecommunicationsterminals: wireline telephones 110-1 and 110-2, cordless telephone 130,wireless telephone 160, and two-way pager 170. As shown in FIG. 1, PSTN105 comprises central office 190; in addition, private branch exchange120's antenna 125 communicates wirelessly with cordless telephone 130'santenna 135, and cellular network 150's antenna 155 communicateswirelessly with wireless telephone 160's antenna 165 and two-way pager170's antenna 175.

In the prior art, a telecommunications terminal typically alerts theuser to the arrival of an incoming message via some sensory mechanism;most commonly, this mechanism is an acoustic “telephone ring.” In someinstances (for example, when the user is busy) the user may refuse anincoming message; in the prior art, the user typically refuses a messageby ignoring the sensory alert, or alternatively, usually in the case ofa wireless terminal, powering down the terminal.

These techniques are very crude, however, as the user is not providedwith any information about the message (except, in the case of terminalssupporting “caller id,” the identity of the sender). Furthermore,systems in the prior art generally lack an automatic facility forletting a user request an alternative delivery mechanism for the message(e.g., email, text chat, short message service (SMS), voice mail, etc.)and informing the sending party of this request. Finally, systems in theprior art may present the sending party with the option to leave arecorded message or be forwarded to an operator after a message has beenrefused; however, such systems generally do not present the sender withany additional, more sophisticated options (e.g., sending anothermessage via another delivery mechanism, another device, etc.) Therefore,the need exists for a more sophisticated mechanism for intelligentlyhandling message refusals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides several techniques for intelligentlyhandling message refusals without some of the disadvantages for doing soin the prior art. In particular, the illustrative embodiments prompt theuser (i.e., the callee) upon refusal to optionally specify:

-   -   i. one or more acceptable alternative message delivery        mechanisms (e.g., email, text chat, etc.), or    -   ii. one or more alternative devices (e.g., pager, PDA, etc.), or    -   iii. both i and ii.

The illustrative embodiments also prompt the sender to send a“follow-up” message that adheres to the user-specifiedmechanisms/devices, and optionally to specify a message priority (e.g.,“emergency,” etc.) or a message subject (e.g., “meeting time change,”etc.) or both. The user is alerted to the follow-up message's arrivalbased on the selected mechanism, the selected device, and the presenceand values of the message priority and message subject.

In addition, the illustrative embodiments automatically determineacceptable alternative delivery mechanisms and/or alternative deviceswhen the user does not specify this information upon refusal; thisdetermination is based on factors that include:

-   -   i. the time and date (i.e., the “calendrical time”), or    -   ii. environmental parameters (e.g., temperature, ambient        luminosity, etc.), or    -   iii. the user's physiological parameters (e.g., blood pressure,        heart rate, etc.), or    -   iv. the location of the user, or    -   v. the proximity of other telecommunications terminals in the        vicinity, or    -   vi. whether the user is currently receiving another message, or    -   vii. the delivery mechanism of the other message, or    -   viii. any combination of i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, and vii.

For example, if a user refuses a telephone call while in a noisyenvironment, it might be appropriate to specify the following asalternative delivery mechanisms and devices: short message service (SMS)on the user's pager, text chat on the same device as the originalmessage, email on the user's personal digital assistant (PDA), etc.

The illustrative embodiments of the present invention comprise: areceiver for receiving a first signal addressed to a telecommunicationsterminal; and a processor for prompting the first signal's sender tosend a second signal when the telecommunications terminal's user refusesthe first signal, wherein the first signal is of a first signal type,and wherein the processor's prompting specifies at least one othersignal type for the second signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of exemplary telecommunications system100 attached to public switched telephone network (PSTN) 105.

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of the first illustrative embodiment, inwhich the present invention resides solely in private branch exchange120, as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of the second illustrative embodiment, inwhich the present invention resides solely in central office 190, asshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of the third illustrative embodiment, inwhich the present invention resides solely in cordless telephone 130, asshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 depicts a block diagram of the third illustrative embodiment, inwhich the present invention resides solely in wireline terminal 110-i,as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 depicts a block diagram of the third illustrative embodiment, inwhich the present invention resides solely in wireless telephone 160, asshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 depicts a block diagram of geo-location sensors 440, as shown inFIG. 4 and FIG. 6, in accordance with the third illustrative embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 8 depicts a block diagram of environmental sensors 450, as shown inFIGS. 4, 5, and 6, in accordance with the third illustrative embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 9 depicts a block diagram of physiological sensors 460, as shown inFIGS. 4, 5, and 6, in accordance with the third illustrative embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 10 depicts a flowchart for handling refusals for processor 220, asshown in FIG. 2, in accordance with the first illustrative embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 11 depicts a flowchart for handling refusals for processor 320, asshown in FIG. 3, in accordance with the second illustrative embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 12 depicts a flowchart for handling refusals for processor 420, asshown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, in accordance with the third illustrativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 depicts a flowchart for the execution of processors 220, 320,and 420 when a follow-up message is received at private branch exchange120, central office 190, and a telecommunications terminal,respectively, in accordance with the first, second, and thirdillustrative embodiments of the present invention, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of the first illustrative embodiment, inwhich the present invention resides solely in private branch exchange120. private branch exchange 120 comprises: switch fabric 260, processor220, clock 230, transmitter 270, receiver 275, and N pairs oftransmitters and receivers—transmitters 250-1 through 250-N andreceivers 255-1 through 255-N-interconnected as shown, wherein N is apositive integer.

Switch fabric 260 enables private branch exchange 120 to establish acommunications session between one or more terminals (e.g., telephone110-1, etc.) and public switched telephone network 105. It will be clearto those skilled in the art how to make and use switch fabric 260.

Processor 220 is a programmed general-purpose processor; it will beclear to those skilled in the art, however, after reading thisspecification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of thepresent invention in which processor 220 is a “hard-wired” orspecial-purpose processor. Processor 220 performs switching logic, as iswell-known in the art; in addition, processor 220 also performsprocessing for handling message refusals and follow-up messages, as isdescribed in detail below in the descriptions of FIG. 10 and FIG. 13.

Clock 230 transmits the current time, date, and day of the week toprocessor 220, in well-known fashion. It will be clear to those skilledin the art how to make and use clock 230.

Transmitter 270 comprises the circuitry that enables private branchexchange 120 to transmit information-bearing electromagnetic signals topublic switched telephone network 105. It will be clear to those skilledin the art how to make and use transmitter 270.

Receiver 275 comprises the circuitry that enables private branchexchange 120 to receive information-bearing electromagnetic signals frompublic switched telephone network 105. It will be clear to those skilledin the art how to make and use receiver 275.

Transmitters 250-i, for i=1 to N, comprises the circuitry that enablesprivate branch exchange 120 to transmit information-bearingelectromagnetic signals to wireline telephone 110-2, cordless telephone130, and other terminals not depicted in FIG. 1. It will be clear tothose skilled in the art how to make and use transmitter 250-i.

Receivers 255-i, for i=1 to N, comprises the circuitry that enablesprivate branch exchange 120 to receive information-bearingelectromagnetic signals from wireline telephone 110-2, cordlesstelephone 130, and other terminals not depicted in FIG. 1. It will beclear to those skilled in the art how to make and use receiver 255-i.

FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of the second illustrative embodiment, inwhich the present invention resides solely in central office 190.Central office 190 comprises: switch fabric 302, processor 320, clock230, and M pairs of transmitters and receivers—transmitters 350-1through 350-M and receivers 355-1 through 355-M-interconnected as shown,wherein M is a positive integer.

Switch fabric 360 enables central office 190 to establish acommunications session between one or more telecommunications terminals,private branch exchanges, cellular base stations, and other centraloffices in public switched telephone network 105. It will be clear tothose skilled in the art how to make and use switch fabric 360.

Processor 320 performs switching logic, as is well-known in the art, aswell as processing for handling message refusals and follow-up messagesin accordance with the present invention, as is described in detailbelow in the descriptions of FIG. 11 and FIG. 13. Processor 320 is aprogrammed general-purpose processor, but it will be clear to thoseskilled in the art how to make and use alternative embodiments of thepresent invention in which processor 320 is a “hard-wired” orspecial-purpose processor.

Transmitter 350-1 comprises the circuitry that enables central office190 to transmit information-bearing electromagnetic signals to privatebranch exchange 120. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how tomake and person transmitter 350-1.

Receiver 355-1 comprises the circuitry that enables central office 190to receive information-bearing electromagnetic signals from privatebranch exchange 120. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how tomake and use receiver 355-1.

Transmitter 350-j, for j=2 to M, comprises the circuitry that enablescentral office 190 to transmit information-bearing electromagneticsignals to terminals, private branch exchanges, cellular base stations,and other central offices in public switched telephone network 105. Itwill be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and usetransmitter 350j.

Receiver 355-j, for j=2 to M, comprises the circuitry that enablescentral office 190 to receive information-bearing electromagneticsignals from terminals, private branch exchanges, cellular basestations, and other central offices in public switched telephone network105. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and usereceiver 355-j.

FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of the third illustrative embodiment, inwhich the present invention resides solely in cordless telephone 130.Cordless telephone 130 comprises: transceiver 410, processor 420, clock230, geo-location sensors 440, environmental sensors 450, physiologicalsensors 460, and transducer 425, and input device 470, interconnected asshown.

Clock 230 transmits the current time, date, and day of the week toprocessor 220 in well-known fashion.

Geo-location sensors 440 receive positional data, as is described indetail below, and transmit these data to processor 420 in well-knownfashion.

Environmental sensors 450 receive atmospheric data, as is described indetail below, and transmit these data to processor 420 in well-knownfashion.

Physiological sensors 460 receive physiological data from a user, as isdescribed in detail below, and transmit these data to processor 420 inwell-known fashion.

Processor 420 performs processing for handling message refusals andfollow-up messages, in accordance with the present invention, as isdescribed in detail below in the descriptions of FIG. 12 and FIG. 13.Processor 420 is a programmed general-purpose processor, but it will beclear to those skilled in the art how to make and use alternativeembodiments of the present invention in which processor 420 is a“hard-wired” or special-purpose processor.

Transducer 425 receives a signal from processor 420 to alert the user tothe arrival of a message and generates a corresponding output signal, inwell-known fashion. Although only a single transducer is depicted inFIG. 4, in some embodiments cordless telephone 130 will have multipletransducers (e.g., an acoustic transducer, a visual transducer, etc.),as is well known in the art.

Input device 470 receives input from a user and sends correspondinginput signals to processor 420. Although only a single input device isdepicted in FIG. 4, in some embodiments cordless telephone 130 will havemultiple input devices (e.g., a keypad, a touchscreen, etc.), as iswell-known in the art.

FIG. 5 depicts a block diagram of the salient components of wirelinetelephone 110-i, in accordance with the third illustrative embodiment ofthe present invention. Wireline telephone 110-i comprises: receiver 410,processor 420, clock 230, environmental sensors 450, physiologicalsensors 460, transducer 425, and input device 470, interconnected asshown. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 5 with FIG. 4, wirelinetelephone 10-i is similar to cordless telephone 130, with the exceptionthat wireline terminal 110-i does not have geo-location sensors 440,which are superfluous in a wireline terminal at a fixed position.

FIG. 6 depicts a block diagram of the salient components of wirelesstelephone 160, in accordance with the third illustrative embodiment ofthe present invention. Wireless telephone 160 comprises: receiver 410,processor 420, clock 430, geo-location sensors 440, environmentalsensors 450, physiological sensors 460, transducer 425, and input device470, interconnected as shown. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 6 withFIG. 4, wireless telephone 160 is similar to cordless telephone 130.

FIG. 7 depicts a block diagram of the salient components of geo-locationsensors 440, in accordance with the third illustrative embodiment of thepresent invention. Geo-location sensors 440 comprises: globalpositioning system (GPS) 710, altimeter 720, and accelerometer 730.

GPS 710 receives satellite-based signals and determines global position,as is well understood in the art, and transmits the data to processor420. In some embodiments, GPS 710 also transmits information toprocessor 420 concerning the geo-locations of other wireless terminalsin the vicinity; as described below, processor 420 can consider thisinformation in determining how to alert the user to the arrival of theincoming message.

It will be clear to persons skilled in the art that some embodimentsmight employ means other than satellite-based signals for determininggeo-location (e.g., triangulation, radio beacons, radio-frequencyfingerprinting [U.S. Pat. No. 6,393,294, incorporated by reference],etc.) In such embodiments, an appropriate receiver (e.g.,radio-frequency receiver, etc.) would be substituted for GPS 710, as iswell understood in the art.

Altimeter 720 measures altitude, in well-known fashion, and transmitsits measurements to processor 420; in some embodiments altimeter 720'sreadings are based on barometric pressure, and in some other embodimentsaltimeter 720 is radar-based.

Accelerometer 730 measures acceleration, in well-known fashion, andtransmits its measurements to processor 420.

FIG. 8 depicts a block diagram of the salient components ofenvironmental sensors 450, in accordance with the illustrativeembodiment of the present invention. Environmental sensors 450comprises: thermometer 810, hygrometer 820, barometer 830, sound levelmeter 840, and photometer 850, all of which receive information from theatmosphere.

Thermometer 810 measures ambient temperature, in well-known fashion, andtransmits its measurements to processor 420.

Hygrometer 820 measures ambient humidity, in well-known fashion, andtransmits its measurements to processor 420.

Barometer 830 measures ambient air pressure, in well-known fashion, andtransmits its measurements to processor 420.

Sound level meter 840 measures ambient sound intensity, in well-knownfashion, and transmits its measurements to processor 420.

Photometer 850 measures ambient light intensity, in well-known fashion,and transmits its measurements to processor 420.

FIG. 9 depicts a block diagram of the salient components ofphysiological sensors 460, in accordance with the illustrativeembodiment of the present invention. Physiological sensors 460comprises: heart rate monitor 910, blood pressure monitor 920,respiration rate monitor 930, body temperature monitor 940, and brainactivity monitor 950. In some embodiments, at least one of thesemonitors receives input from the user via at least one sensor coupled toa part of a user's body (e.g., finger, forehead, etc.), wherein thesensor transmits data to the terminal either by a wire, or wirelessly.In some other embodiments, at least one of these monitors receives inputfrom the user via at least one sensor located within the terminal,wherein the sensor receives physiological signals from the user when theuser is holding the terminal.

Heart rate monitor 910 measures the user's heart rate, in well-knownfashion, and transmits its measurements to processor 420.

Blood pressure monitor 920 measures the user's blood pressure, inwell-known fashion, and transmits its measurements to processor 420.

Respiration rate monitor 930 measures the user's respiration rate, inwell-known fashion, and transmits its measurements to processor 420.

Body temperature monitor 940 measures the user's body temperature, inwell-known fashion, and transmits its measurements to processor 420.

Brain activity monitor 950 measures the user's brain activity inwell-known fashion (e.g., EKG, etc.), and transmits its measurements toprocessor 420.

FIG. 10 depicts a flowchart of the operation of processor 220 when auser refuses an incoming message, according to the first illustrativeembodiment of the present invention.

At task 1010, processor 220 receives user input indicating that the userhas refused an incoming message.

At task 1015, processor 220 checks whether the user refusal included:one or more acceptable alternative message delivery mechanisms(hereafter referred to as message types), and/or one or more acceptablealternative devices to use in lieu of the initial message. In someembodiments, the telecommunications terminal might have a facility(e.g., keypad buttons, etc.) for proactively refusing the message andproviding alternative delivery mechanisms and/or devices. If the userdid include such information, processor 220 continues execution at task1050, described below; otherwise, processor 220 continues execution attask 1020, described below.

At task 1020, processor 220 sends a prompting signal to the user via theappropriate transmitter 250; this signal asks the user to specify anyacceptable alternative message types and/or devices. The promptingsignal could present the user with a menu in which the user can selectthe desired options (e.g., via keypad, voice input, etc.), as iswell-understood in the art.

At task 1025, processor 220 checks whether the user responded to theprompt with any input. If so, processor 220 continues execution at task1050, described below; otherwise, processor 220 continues execution attask 1030, described below.

At task 1030, processor 220 notes whether the user's terminal iscurrently receiving another message, and if so, the type of thismessage, for determining acceptable alternative message deliveryoptions.

At task 1035, processor 220 considers data received from clock 230 fordetermining acceptable alternative message types and devices.

At task 1040, processor 220 determines any acceptable alternativemessage types based on the results of tasks 1030 and 1035.

At task 1045, processor 220 determines any acceptable alternativedevices based on the results of tasks 1030 and 1035

At task 1050, processor 220 sends a signal to the sender via theappropriate transmitter; this signal prompts the sender to send anothermessage if he/she wishes, indicating the acceptable alternative messagetypes and devices.

At task 1055, processor 220 sends another signal prompting the sender tooptionally provide a message priority and/or a message subject.

FIG. 11 depicts a flowchart of the operation of processor 320 when auser refuses an incoming message, according to the second illustrativeembodiment of the present invention.

At task 1110, processor 320 receives user input indicating that the userhas refused an incoming message.

At task 1115, processor 320 checks whether the user refusal included oneor more acceptable alternative message types and/or devices. If the userdid include such information, processor 320 continues execution at task1150, described below; otherwise, processor 320 continues execution attask 1120, described below.

At task 1120, processor 320 sends a prompting signal to the user via theappropriate transmitter 350; this signal asks the user to specify anyacceptable alternative message types and/or devices.

At task 1125, processor 320 checks whether the user responded to theprompt with any input. If so, processor 320 continues execution at task1150, described below; otherwise, processor 320 continues execution attask 1130, described below.

At task 1130, processor 320 notes whether the user's terminal iscurrently receiving another message, and if so, the type of thismessage, for determining acceptable alternative message deliveryoptions.

At task 1135, processor 320 considers data received from clock 230 fordetermining acceptable alternative message types and devices.

At task 1140, processor 320 determines any acceptable alternativemessage types based on the results of tasks 1130 and 1135.

At task 1145, processor 320 determines any acceptable alternativedevices based on the results of tasks 1130 and 1135

At task 1150, processor 320 sends a signal to the sender via theappropriate transmitter 350; this signal prompts the sender to sendanother message if he/she wishes, indicating the acceptable alternativemessage types and devices.

At task 1155, processor 320 sends another signal prompting the sender tooptionally provide a message priority and/or a message subject.

FIG. 12 depicts a flowchart of the operation of processor 420 when auser refuses an incoming message, according to the third illustrativeembodiment of the present invention.

At task 1210, processor 420 receives user input indicating that the userhas refused an incoming message.

At task 1215, processor 420 checks whether the user refusal included oneor more acceptable alternative message types and/or devices. If the userdid include such information, processor 420 continues execution at task1250, described below; otherwise, processor 420 continues execution attask 1220, described below.

At task 1220, processor 420 sends a prompting signal to the user viatransducer 425; this signal asks the user to specify any acceptablealternative message types and/or devices.

At task 1225, processor 420 checks whether the user responded to theprompt with any input. If so, processor 420 continues execution at task1250, described below; otherwise, processor 420 continues execution attask 1230, described below.

At task 1230, processor 420 notes whether transceiver 410 is currentlyreceiving another message, and if so, the type of this message, fordetermining acceptable alternative message types and devices.

At task 1235, processor 420 considers data received from clock 230 fordetermining acceptable alternative message types and devices.

At task 1236, processor 420 considers data received from geo-locationsensors 440 for determining acceptable alternative message types anddevices. For example, if the user is inside a church, a short messageservice (SMS) on the user's pager or a text chat on the user's PDA mightbe acceptable in lieu of an initial voice call attempt.

At task 1237, processor 420 considers data received from environmentalsensors 450 for determining acceptable alternative message types anddevices. For example, if the user is in a noisy environment, SMS, textchat, and/or email on any user device might be acceptable.

At task 1238, processor 420 considers data received from physiologicalsensors 460 for determining acceptable alternative message types anddevices. For example, if the user is engaged in vigorous exercise, avoice call might be acceptable in lieu of an initial text chat attempt.

At task 1240, processor 420 determines any acceptable alternativemessage types based on the results of tasks 1230, 1235, 1236, 1237, and1238.

At task 1245, processor 420 determines any acceptable alternativedevices based on the results of tasks 1230, 1235, 1236, 1237, and 1238.

At task 1250, processor 420 sends a signal to the sender via transceiver410; this signal prompts the sender to send another message if he/shewishes, indicating the acceptable alternative message types and devices.

At task 1255, processor 420 sends another signal to the sender promptinghim/her to optionally specify a message priority and/or a messagesubject for the new message.

FIG. 13 depicts a flowchart of the execution of processors 220, 320, and420 when a follow-up message is received at private branch exchange 120,central office 190, and a telecommunications terminal, respectively.

At task 1310, processor 220/320/420 notes the follow-up message's typeand destination device.

At task 1315, processor 220/320/420 checks if the message has apriority; if it does, processor 220/320/420 continues execution at task1320, described below; otherwise, processor 220/320/420 continuesexecution at task 1330, described below.

At task 1320, processor 220/320/420 compares the priority to athreshold; if the priority exceeds the threshold, processor 220/320/420continues execution at task 1350, described below; otherwise, processor220/320/420 continues execution at task 1355, described below.

At task 1330, processor 220/320/420 checks if the message has a subject;if it does, processor 220/320/420 continues execution at task 1335,described below; otherwise, processor 220/320/420 continues execution attask 1340, described below.

At task 1335, processor 220/320/420 checks whether the message subjectcontains any phrases in a list of pre-determined special phrasesindicating urgency (e.g., “hospital,” “earthquake,” “medical emergency,”etc.). It will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art how toprogram processor 220/320/420 to perform such checking. If the messagesubject does have any special phrases, processor 220/320/420 continuesexecution at task 1350, described below; otherwise, processor220/320/420 continues execution at task 1340, described below.

At task 1340, processor 220/320/420 checks whether the message type anddestination are the same as for the original message; if so, processor220/320/420 continues execution at task 1355, described below;otherwise, processor 220/320/420 continues execution at task 1350,described below.

At task 1350, processor 220/320/420 takes an appropriate action to alertthe user to the follow-up message immediately. For processor 420, anexemplary action is to send an output signal to transducer 425; forprocessor 220, an exemplary action is to signal the appropriatetransmitter to send the message from private branch exchange 120 to thedestination device; for processor 320, an exemplary action is to signalthe appropriate transmitter to send the message from central office 190to the transmitter's corresponding private branch exchange ordestination device. Persons skilled in the art will know how to programprocessors 220, 230, and 240 to perform such functions.

At task 1355, processor 220/320/420 takes an appropriate action to alertthe user to the follow-up message after a time delay. From thedescription of the tasks above, it is apparent that task 1355 isexecuted either when

-   -   the sender assigned a low priority to the follow-up message; or    -   the sender did all of the following:        -   (a) sent the follow-up message in the same exact manner as            the original message (i.e., same message type and            destination device);        -   (b) did not assign the follow-up message a priority; and        -   (c) either:            -   (i) did not assign a message subject, or            -   (ii) assigned a message subject that did not contain any                special phrases.                The exemplary actions given in the previous paragraph                apply to task 1355 as well.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading thisspecification, how to make and use; private branch exchanges inaccordance with the first illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention; central offices in accordance with the second illustrativeembodiment of the present invention; and telecommunications terminals inaccordance with the third illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are merelyillustrative of the present invention and that many variations of theabove-described embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended that such variations be included within the scope of thefollowing claims and their equivalents.

1. An apparatus comprising: a receiver for receiving a first signal associated with a first message sent via a first message type addressed to a telecommunications terminal; and a processor for prompting the sender of said first signal to send a second message via a second message type when said first signal is refused at said telecommunications terminal; wherein said processor automatically selects said second message type from a plurality of message types based on an ambient environmental property at said telecommunications terminal.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is a private branch exchange.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is a central office switch.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said telecommunications terminal comprises said apparatus.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the selection of said second message type is also based on a physiological property of the user of said telecommunications terminal.
 6. An apparatus comprising: a receiver for receiving a first signal associated with a first message sent via a first message type addressed to a first telecommunications terminal; and a processor for prompting the sender of said first signal to send a second message to a second telecommunications terminal when said first signal is refused at said first telecommunications terminal; wherein said processor automatically selects said second telecommunications terminal from a plurality of telecommunications terminals based on an ambient environmental property at said first telecommunications terminal.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the selection of said second telecommunications terminal is also based on a physiological property of the user of said first telecommunications terminal.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said apparatus is a private branch exchange.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said apparatus is a central office switch.
 10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said telecommunications terminal comprises said apparatus. 